Month: December 2019

Jack Wilshere Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Jack Wilshere can still play a major part this season – despite being ruled out for the next three months. Following further medical examinations on the leg injury Wilshere suffered in pre-season, the decision has now been taken that an operation is needed to properly correct the problem which will see a small plate inserted into the bone. Wilshere’s career has been marred by injuries and questions will be raised about whether he will ever reach his true potential after this latest setback. However, Wenger moved to allay fears over the 23-year-old’s long-term recovery prospects.Speaking in Croatia ahead of the Champions League Group F opener against Dinamo Zagreb, the Arsenal boss said: “Like every player, he wants to play football and he is disappointed, but he has shown in the past he can deal with that. I think he was determined to do it quickly and come back as quickly as possible.“We are still at the start of the season. We are now mid-September, so after three months – mid-December – he can be back. There is still a long way to play after.“This kind of injury is not a kind of injury which can damage your career. It is just a bone that did not heal well.“They need to put a little clip in. That is nothing major, not a career-threatening injury.”Wenger continued: “I am not a specialist. I think this was just an accident which was not linked with his ankles. It just a bone injury.” 1read more

Brendan Rodgers is facing another uncertain spell at Liverpool, with a worrying number of unhappy Reds supporters calling for the Northern Irish manager’s head.Jurgen Klopp has emerged as contender to replace Rodgers, and the response to such speculation has been mixed.Some believe the former Borussia Dortmund boss would be a ‘gamble’ for Liverpool, while others, interestingly, seem to think he has his eyes on Bayern Munich at the end of the season.Pep Guardiola, who stormed out of his press conference on Friday after being asked about links to England, could leave the Bundesliga giants in the summer when his current contract expires.And Klopp could be among the candidates to replace him.Have a read of the views of skeptical Premier League fans wondering if the German has set his sights higher.Which club do you think Klopp will next manage? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below… 1 Football fans think Jurgen Klopp is waiting for Pep Guardiola to leave Bayern Munich read more

Jose Mourinho 1 Johan Cruyff believes Jose Mourinho is setting a bad example to young people with his behaviour.Mourinho has come in for criticism for his management of Chelsea so far this season. The champions are languishing in 16th position in the Barclays Premier League after losing four of their opening eight matches, but the Portuguese’s antics on the touchline have annoyed Cruyff.Mourinho was criticised for his treatment of Dr Eva Carneiro, who left the club after rowing with the Chelsea manager over an injury to Eden Hazard against Swansea.The former Real Madrid manager was also charged with misconduct for his comments about referees following the 3-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday.“He’s controversial,” the former Ajax and Barcelona manager told Sky Sports.“What I like about him is he’s always capable of creating good ambience within the players and what I don’t like is that he always puts himself on the first row. He should be on the second row.“It’s probably because of his background, where he’s never been cheered by 100,000 people, or whistled at by 100,000 people.“Maybe it’s because of that, maybe because of the interest from the press, but I don’t think he is educating children to play football or educating for life.“He should behave better because he will be in the press all over the world.”read more

1 Antonio Valencia limping off during the Manchester derby Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia has undergone an operation on a foot injury he suffered in last month’s derby, the club have confirmed.The 30-year-old posted a picture on social media from his hospital bed to say the surgery had gone well and he will now begin a rehabilitation process.Valencia was kicked on the foot during the first half of United’s goalless draw against Manchester City on October 25 but played on until late in the game before being replaced by Matteo Darmian.The Ecuador international had just ousted summer arrival Darmian as Louis van Gaal’s first-choice right-back but now faces an unspecified time on the sidelines having gone under the knife.“#mufc can confirm @Anto_V25 has had an operation on his foot,” the club posted on their official Twitter feed.Valencia then followed up with a picture of himself just after the procedure.“Thank God came out well from the operation. Now think about my recovery,” he wrote.In Valencia’s absence, both Darmian and Ashley Young have started two games apiece at right-back as Van Gaal’s Red Devils continue to boast the best defensive record in the Barclays Premier League.Saturday’s 2-0 win over West Brom was enough to see United close to within two points of the top of the table heading into the international break.Valencia joins fellow full-back Luke Shaw on the injured list, with the England international sidelined for the coming months after suffering a double leg-break during United’s 2-1 Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven in September. Thank God came out well from the operation. Now think about my recovery. @ManUtd @ManUtd_Es pic.twitter.com/eHUVS4uBwh— Antonio Valencia (@anto_v25) November 10, 2015read more

Sepp Blatter 1 Sepp Blatter has written to FIFA’s 209 member associations protesting his innocence ahead of Thursday’s hearing by FIFA’s ethics committee.The 79-year-old outgoing FIFA president has called the ethics committee “tendentious and dangerous” and also claims the proceedings against him have been like “the Inquisition”.Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini will have hearings before FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert on Thursday and Friday in Zurich over a £1.3million payment made to Platini by FIFA in 2011.Blatter, who is currently provisionally suspended, has written to the associations saying: “I am bewildered by the insinuations and allegations brought against me by the investigatory chamber of ethics committee.“However, the way in which the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee has communicated on the current proceedings, demanded the maximum penalty and reinforced public prejudgement has reached a tendentious and dangerous dimension.“These proceedings remind me of the Inquisition.“I will continue to fight for my rights and at the end of this week I will present my case before the adjudicatory chamber with great conviction and a strong belief in justice.”Blatter and Platini face charges including corruption, conflict of interest and non-cooperation. Sources with knowledge of the case say that it will be difficult to prove corruption, which carries a lifetime ban, but believe there is clear evidence of a conflict of interest in the payment being made.Blatter’s case will be heard on Thursday with Platini’s following on Friday, with a decision expected on Monday next week.The 2million Swiss franc payment was made to Platini in February 2011. The Frenchman and Blatter say the payment was honouring an agreement made in 1998 for work carried out between 1998 and 2002 when Platini worked as a technical advisor for the FIFA president.However, the payment was not part of Platini’s written contract – they have insisted that it was a verbal agreement which is legal under Swiss law.The timing of the payment has raised eyebrows, though. It took place nine years after Platini had stopped working for FIFA, and was made while Blatter was seeking support for a fourth term as president. Several weeks after the payment was made Platini and UEFA’s executive committee endorsed his candidacy.Blatter says in his letter that one of the values passed on to him by his parents was to always pay off his debts.He adds of the Platini payment: “I can assure you that it was legal because it was based on a verbal agreement. And agreements must be adhered to.“This payment was put through the full administrative process, the correctness of which was confirmed by all competent FIFA bodies including the Congress.”read more

Alvaro Morata 1 Arsenal target Alvaro Morata will not be leaving Juventus, according to the Italian club’s director of football Giuseppe Marotta.Arsene Wenger bid for the Spanish striker two summers ago when he was a Real Madrid player but he chose to join Juve, where he was an instant hit.However, this season he has started just eight Serie A matches and he has been subbed off in every one, grabbing just one goal.Summer signing Paulo Dybala is outshining him in Turin and Morata must be concerned his stock within the Spanish national team will be dropping ahead of Euro 2016.Madrid could use a buy-back clause to sign the striker for £26m in this window, ahead of the embargo in the following two windows. Or Arsenal could grab him in the summer and try to resurrect his career.But Juve insists the 23-year-old is still central to their plans to dominate Italian football.“We have no interest in dealing with Real Madrid or any other club,” Marotta said.“We’ve never considered selling Morata. He’s part of the backbone of this team; he’s a youngster who has shown he’s the real thing.“We’re used to keeping hold of players like him.”read more

Officials at Niloofar Publications confirmed Saturday they have been forbidden to put out the second edition. “The first edition has sold out, but we were ordered not to publish the second edition,” an employee with Niloofar Publications said Saturday, declining to give his name because of the sensitivity of the issue. Garcia Marquez, who was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1982, is popular in Iran, which has translated and published many of his books, including “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “Love in the Time of Cholera.” Iran has tightened censorship of books, films and music since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREStriving toward a more perfect me: Doug McIntyre “I don’t know what the book is about. But when the government bans a book, there is something interesting in it, so I’m buying the book out of curiosity,” he said while counting his money for a book dealer in central Tehran. The novel, known in the West as “Memories of My Melancholy Whores,” was translated into Persian as “Memories of My Melancholy Sweethearts.” It tells the story of an elderly man who has long used prostitutes and decides to mark his 90th birthday by sleeping with a 14-year-old virgin. He ends up falling in love with the girl. The Culture Ministry, whose censors are responsible to check the contents of books before print, said a “bureaucratic error” led to the government giving permission for the novel to be published, the daily Etemad reported Saturday. Culture Minister Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi blamed the “negligence” of his subordinates and said the official who authorized the book’s publication has been dismissed, the semiofficial Fars news agency reported. “Necessary measures have been taken to avoid reoccurrence of such a printing,” Fars quoted Harandi as saying earlier this week. TEHRAN, Iran – An Iranian government decision to forbid the second printing of a Persian translation of Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s latest novel has spurred interest in the book, booksellers said Saturday. The novel by the famed Latin American writer was translated into Persian and had an initial press run of 5,000 copies. It was banned after the Ministry of Culture received complaints from conservatives who believed the novel was promoting prostitution. The ban has only provoked greater interest in the novel, and on Saturday copies of the book were being sold for more than twice their list price. Ahmad Abbasi, 28, had to pay $3.70 to buy the novel on the black market – more than twice the price tag. read more

Consultas is a Letterkenny based financial services company that specialises in Debt Management. The economic collapse put unbridled strain on both homeowners and businesses who ultimately over borrowed during the boom times, more commonly referred to as the Celtic Tiger.Whether it be negotiating restructures or settlements from Banks, CONSULTAS can assist businesses and individuals who over borrowed during the boom times. Now that the economy is taking off again and showing signs of recovery CONSULTAS can help companies or sole traders arrange new finance from Banks to help them develop their existing or start up business.The company is owned and operated by Niall Kavanagh & Tom McDonagh both of whom have many years’ experience working in the banking/finance industry.Consultas is currently the only company authorised by The Central Bank to carry out Debt Management Services in Co Donegal.Both Niall & Tom are Qualified Financial Advisors and their company now offers the full range of financial services including Debt Management and as agents for various life assurance companies in the provision of all your Protection, Investment and Retirement Planning needs. SMEsIf your business is carrying too much debt, probably because you invested in property at the wrong time then we can help you to negotiate restructure arrangements with your bankers with a view to safeguarding the long term future of your business.Alternatively if you are expanding or developing your business and need help in arranging new finance please contact us.PersonalYou may have borrowed to invest in one or more properties during the boom times and now find that you are under pressure to keep your repayments up to date on properties that are probably valued at much less than the original cost. We may be able to help you to come to an agreement with your bankers to resolve your present difficulties.Mortgages – If you are trying to buy a house and need help to arrange a Mortgage we may be able to assist you.Life Assurance & Protection /Funds to invest.If you have a need to arrange new life cover be it to protect you or your family or indeed if you have surplus funds to invest and are not happy with the low interest rates being offered on traditional deposit accounts please give us a call. Consultas Financial Services Ltd are based in Letterkenny.Contact Details : Niall 083 4274881. Email niall@consultas.ieTom 087 2834207. Email tom@consultas.ieCARRYING TOO MUCH DEBT? SET UP A MEETING TODAY WITH FINANCIAL EXPERTS AT CONSULTAS was last modified: April 8th, 2015 by Mark ForkerShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:BusinessConsultasFeaturesnewsread more

2. Calum Chambers – Chambers isnt good enough for Arsenal. The former Southampton man is a squad player, and little more. It is a shame that he hasnt adapted to life at the Emirates, but an exit could be suited to both parties. 5. Per Mertesacker – Mertesacker has to go. Wengers confidence in the Germany international is bizarre; so often does he look out of his depth battling in Englands top flight, but for as long as he stays, he will remain a regular on the team-sheet. The 31-year-old is not the answer to a John Terry or a Vincent Kompany at Arsenal, and Wenger has to step into the transfer market and acquire an experienced centre back that can partner Laurent Koscielny. Mertesacker isnt the man for the job. Arsenal have left even rival supporters in disbelief at their performances this season. With Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United struggling in the Premier League, this season should have seen the Gunners run away with the title. Instead, manager Arsene Wenger’s side have remained as inconsistent as ever, with injuries, a lack of leadership and a lack of activity in the transfer market – to name but a few– continuing to hinder their ability to challenge for top spot.With all this in mind, it could now be time for Arsenal to engage in a major overhaul of their senior squad in the summer.But which players’ futures in north London may be under threat?Take a look at six players the Gunners could offload at the end of the season by viewing the slideshow above. 4. Olivier Giroud – After this season, Wenger has to address his striker options. At the beginning of the campaign, Theo Walcott was the preferred option to lead the line before  predictably  injury forced the return of Giroud. While both regularly found the net early on, the second half of the season has seen their goals to game ratio alarmingly drop. Arsenal simply dont have a centre forward that can perform consistently, nor do they have one that intimidates their opponents. Giroud is not the answer. 6 6 3. Jack Wilshere – He may well be set to return from injury soon, but just how long will it be until he suffers another setback and returns to the recovery room? Looking at his track record suggests it wont be long. Arsenal may well be at fault for his fitness problems, but whos at fault  if anyone  is irrelevant. The Gunners have to address his role. As a homegrown player, his market value likely remains high and cashing in could be a wise decision, particularly as they desperately require an established defensive midfielder. 6. Theo Walcott – Walcott is among the most frustrating players in Englands top flight. For all his pace, he often has little to show for it and patience may now be wearing thin. His future was uncertain last season, with his contract expiring, but having penned a new four-year deal in the summer, he was expected to finally kick on as a regular in the first team. Despite a promising start to the current season, though, his contribution hasnt been enough. The fact is he isnt good enough to fire Arsenal to a Premier League title. Whether Wenger agrees, however, is debatable. 6 1. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – take a look at five other players whose futures in north London are in danger by clicking the arrow above – This season has seen supporters finally question the Oxs development. The winger has spent over four and a half seasons at Arsenal, but what he has contributed to the club during this time has been minimal. His performances have showed few signs of improvement, making it difficult to envisage him becoming a regular in the senior squad. He may only be 22, but having spent such a significant chunk of his career in the Premier League, there is little argument that he shouldnt now be performing consistently. Liverpool and West Ham have both been linked with his signature  cashing in might not be such a bad idea. 6 6 6read more

Aston Villa fans have protested Randy Lerner ownership of the club for years 1 Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has accepted blame for the club’s relegation from the Premier League, saying their drop to the Championship “lies at my feet and no one else’s.”The American, who rarely attends games, has been under fire from fans during Villa’s slide down the table over the last five years.The club was relegated after last week’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, the first time they have dropped out of the top flight since 1987.Lerner said in a written statement on the club’s official website: “I write to Villa supporters to make clear that this relegation lies at my feet and no one else’s.”Lerner is looking to sell his share of Villa and the club is in talks with potential buyers but it is understood nothing is imminent at this stage.They were plunged into further disarray this week after directors Mervyn King and David Bernstein quit with the pair’s apparent resignation letters hinting at problems with Lerner.And Lerner, who has owned the club since 2006, penned an open letter to supporters to shoulder responsibility for the drop.He added: “How many seasons after all can one hold on and hope to slide through? That is not Aston Villa. That kind of desperate existence is totally unacceptable, unbearable and totally incompatible with Villa’s glorious past.“That is not what, or why, I looked to get involved back then and it is why I’ve looked for some time to make a change. I can say certainly in good faith that I have tried to sell since my May 2014 announcement and put our beloved club in better suited hands – but that hasn’t happened.“I believe in Aston Villa and know it will come back stronger and more able, with love and care for the community it serves.“I will continue to try to put the club into worthy hands and also do my best to position Villa for the quickest possible return to its rightful place among England’s elite.”read more